The BBC has axed the junior version of Lord Sugar’s hugely popular parent show, annoying him so much he is threatening to take the whole franchise ­elsewhere.

Admittedly, Young Apprentice has never been quite as gripping – or idiotic – as the adult version. And the fact that Lord Sugar can’t give such young contestants his full verbal flame-thrower treat­ment does count against it.

On the other hand, in the current economic climate, the BBC should surely be showing young people some of their contempor­aries who, at 16 or 17, already have their own businesses – even if they aren’t as globally successful as they claim they are.

And in its defence, this series has thrown up some classic moments.

The episode in which the nation’s brightest young minds were thrown by the search for a candelabra (or “can-dela-bra” as one pronounced it) for example was a classic. As was fashion designer Patrick’s wetsuit/kimono creation.

For the final, the contestants have to create a new brand of sportswear and present it to a range of “experts” which includes Rio Ferdinand.

Favourites Lucy and Ashleigh are paired together while poor Patrick not only has to win the task but keep Maria the blonde bulldozer in her place without throttling her.

One of these four will win Lord Sugar’s investment of £25,000.

Springwatch Guide To Otters - BBC2, 8pm

BBC

Riverside: Chris Packham

Springwatch continues to defy the fact it’s not actually spring with its expansion into specialist shows about seabirds – and now the creatures we’ve all loved since the days of Tarka.

The show is the Top Gear of the animal kingdom with a relaxed style of presenting that means it doesn’t really matter whether you are interested in otters or not.

Simon King (the most earnest of the experts) goes to the Shetlands to look at the coastal northern otters that I confess I didn’t know about.

Charlie Hamilton James (the James May of the bunch) reveals the ­scientific findings that confirm the otter’s comeback is complete. It was extinct in England in the 1970s having dispersed to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to avoid pesticides.

As for Chris Packham, he analyses the behaviour of river otters – although judging from previous episodes, when he ingeniously managed to mention hundreds of song titles by The Smiths and David Bowie, anything is possible where he is concerned.

Southland – More4, 10pm

Looking good: Jessica Lang (Lucy Liu)

Southland is now the best cop show on television – so improved that it’s become a cross between NYPD Blue and The Shield.

Now in its fourth season, it has stopped relying on former OC pin-up Ben McKenzie and has toughened up the cases to reflect the human jungle that is life on the streets of LA.

Tonight’s episode, for example, includes a couple threatening a baker for refusing to make a birthday cake covered in swastikas for their young son Adolf.

The addition of Lucy Liu as John Cooper’s partner Jessica Tang has also added real glamour.

Tonight, as if they didn’t have enough to deal with keeping a lid on all the gangs, crackheads and rich idiots living in Hollywood, Cooper and co have a documentary crew following their every move.

With former alcoholic “Dewey” Dudek and tough guy Sammy Bryant on duty, that was never going to end well.